God's Power, Not Man's Wisdom
Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 2:4-14
Paul always emphasized that what he preached was not taught to him by any man and did not come from himself. It is not man's wisdom, but a demonstration of the power of God that was revealed in Paul's teachings. And it was not with what the world considered wise and fancy words that Paul sought to persuade people to accept the gospel, but the power of the Holy Spirit that touched men's soul's and spoke to men's hearts.
Paul tells us that it is the Holy Spirit that knows the secrets of the depths of God's spirit, and can reveal those secretes to the man who has accepted Jesus as Christ and has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But the man who does not have the Spirit of God in him cannot understand the wisdom of God, because it is only the Holy Spirit that can reveal it to him, not some man using man's wisdom and man's eloquent speech. This is why Paul made sure that he spoke plainly to ordinary men. So that there would be no doubt that what he said was of God, and not just his ideas.
Today America is filled with men in pulpits filled with self-confidence presenting sermons based on man's wisdom using man's eloquent words. They present "culturally relevant" topical messages on issues every man can understand without the aid of the Holy Spirit. They speak of having an uncluttered life, having a good marriage, having a successful career, and having material, worldly prosperity. They speak the words of man with the wisdom of man so that they can receive man's approval. The Holy Spirit is not in them, not in the words they speak, and not in the audience that hears them.
It needs to be remembered that the church is not going to be a place attractive to all men because it reveals the truth many men want to hide from. And the job of the preacher is not to gain the approval of men, but to be a voice for the Holy Spirit to communicate His message to the hearts and souls of those called of God according to His purpose. The message which come from the pulpit will be a mystery, foolishness, and a stumbling block for some; for others it will be the bread of life. Some with have no idea what the preacher was talking about, but those to whom the secretes are revealed by the Holy Spirit will receive the wisdom of God. And in that wisdom is the power of God.
I agree that we need to try to reach the un-churched and the seekers, but that is exactly what Paul did. He was speaking to people for whom his message was something brand new and completely different from every other message they had ever heard. And because his words came from and were directed by the Holy Spirit, they were just the right words delivered in just the right way to reach the ones called by God. Paul did not have to preach sermons that made people feel good, dealt with current issues, or promised material prosperity. Paul proclaimed Jesus Christ, and him crucified for the propitiation of sins. It was the plain, simple gospel of Jesus Christ which touched men's hearts and soul's. It was the Word of God's grace through Christ Jesus which won the approval of men, not Paul's word. And that is how it should be today.
May the Grace of God, the love of Jesus Christ, and the peace of the Holy Spirit be with you.
Paul always emphasized that what he preached was not taught to him by any man and did not come from himself. It is not man's wisdom, but a demonstration of the power of God that was revealed in Paul's teachings. And it was not with what the world considered wise and fancy words that Paul sought to persuade people to accept the gospel, but the power of the Holy Spirit that touched men's soul's and spoke to men's hearts.
Paul tells us that it is the Holy Spirit that knows the secrets of the depths of God's spirit, and can reveal those secretes to the man who has accepted Jesus as Christ and has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But the man who does not have the Spirit of God in him cannot understand the wisdom of God, because it is only the Holy Spirit that can reveal it to him, not some man using man's wisdom and man's eloquent speech. This is why Paul made sure that he spoke plainly to ordinary men. So that there would be no doubt that what he said was of God, and not just his ideas.
Today America is filled with men in pulpits filled with self-confidence presenting sermons based on man's wisdom using man's eloquent words. They present "culturally relevant" topical messages on issues every man can understand without the aid of the Holy Spirit. They speak of having an uncluttered life, having a good marriage, having a successful career, and having material, worldly prosperity. They speak the words of man with the wisdom of man so that they can receive man's approval. The Holy Spirit is not in them, not in the words they speak, and not in the audience that hears them.
It needs to be remembered that the church is not going to be a place attractive to all men because it reveals the truth many men want to hide from. And the job of the preacher is not to gain the approval of men, but to be a voice for the Holy Spirit to communicate His message to the hearts and souls of those called of God according to His purpose. The message which come from the pulpit will be a mystery, foolishness, and a stumbling block for some; for others it will be the bread of life. Some with have no idea what the preacher was talking about, but those to whom the secretes are revealed by the Holy Spirit will receive the wisdom of God. And in that wisdom is the power of God.
I agree that we need to try to reach the un-churched and the seekers, but that is exactly what Paul did. He was speaking to people for whom his message was something brand new and completely different from every other message they had ever heard. And because his words came from and were directed by the Holy Spirit, they were just the right words delivered in just the right way to reach the ones called by God. Paul did not have to preach sermons that made people feel good, dealt with current issues, or promised material prosperity. Paul proclaimed Jesus Christ, and him crucified for the propitiation of sins. It was the plain, simple gospel of Jesus Christ which touched men's hearts and soul's. It was the Word of God's grace through Christ Jesus which won the approval of men, not Paul's word. And that is how it should be today.
May the Grace of God, the love of Jesus Christ, and the peace of the Holy Spirit be with you.
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